Sari 2021 IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 741 012020

IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
PAPER • OPEN ACCESS
The occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda attack on maize in West

Pasaman District, West Sumatra, Indonesia
To cite this article: S P Sari et al 2021 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 741 012020
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ICBEAU 2020 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 741 (2021) 012020 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/741/1/012020
The occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda attack on maize in

West Pasaman District, West Sumatra, Indonesia
S P Sari12*, I Suliansyah2, N Nelly3, H Hamid3

1
PhD Student at Agriculture Science Departement, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
2
Agrotechnology Departement, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
3
Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
Email: Silvia@agr.unand.ac.id
Abstract. Maize [Zea mays] is the third most important cereal crop in Asian countries after
rice and wheat. In Indonesia, maize is the second food crop after rice. One of the main
problems in corn cultivation is pests. Spodoptera frugiperda [Lepidoptera: Noctuidae] is the
major pest of maize and polyphagous insect pest attacking more than 80 crops. This study aims
to determine the occurrence of heavy by the S. frugiperda in West Pasaman District, West
Sumatra. The research method used in this study was a survey or sampling. The results showed
that there was a severe attack of a new invasive pest, S. frugiperda on maize crops in West
Pasaman. The attack rate of S. frugiperda in West Pasaman District was classified as high,
reaching 100.00% at the age of 40 days after planting. Maize was severely damaged in the
early stages phase vegetative of maize [approximately 40 days after planting], with 100% of
maize infested and each plant was occupied by one until two medium or large larvae. Its
means, the vegetative phase is a phase that is vulnerable to the S. frugiperda attack of maize.
The high intensity of S. frugiperda attacks is also caused by several factors, like variety,
spacing, types of plants around maize fields, and when farmers used pest and disease control
techniques. Even a severe attack can cause the maize to fail to grow. This new invasive pest
can threaten maize production in Indonesia. Therefore, further research is needed regarding this
new invasive pest, S.frugiperda.
Keywords: Fall armyworm, growing point [shoots], new invasive pest, vulnerable phase, west
Pasaman District
1. Introduction
Maize [Zea mays L.] is the third most important cereal crop in Asian countries. In Indonesia, maize is
the second food crop after rice. One of the maize production centers in West Pasaman [1]. Spodoptera
frugiperda J.E. Smith is the major pest of maize and polyphagous insect pest attacking more than 80
crops. S. frugiperda, a native pest to tropical and subtropical regions in America and has been reported
to infest maize and causing significant losses in African countries since the first detection in January
2016. Furthermore, this insect has spread to other countries, India and Yemen in 2018 [10; 8; 3]. In
Indonesia, S. frugiperda is an invasive new pest on maize. At the beginning of 2019, this pest was
found in maize plants in the Sumatra area [13].
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution
of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd 1
Recently in early July, Sari et al. have been reported in the newspaper Khazanah-Kota Padang
[July 3, 2019], that maize in several districts in West Sumatra Province was attacked by S. frugiperda.
Based on the survey results of Sari et al. [18] since the beginning of 2019, this pest has attack corn
plants in West Pasaman, Pariaman, Solok, and Padang Pariaman District. This attack of S. frugiperda
is greatly feared by farmers today because the damage caused by this pest is very high. Even if control
measures are not taken immediately, they can reduce production yields. This species has been also
found in Bandung [14], Lampung [22], and Bengkulu [15]. But scientific reports on the existence of S.
frugiperda pest in West Sumatra are still limited. Therefore, research about new invasive pests on
maize in West Sumatra is urgently needed. The intensity of attacks and the occurrence of large
populations of new invasive pests are urgently needed to prevent the explosion of new invasive pests.
2. Material and methods

This experiment has been carried out in two sub-districts of maize production centers in West
Pasaman District, and at the Bioecology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Andalas University,
Indonesia. This study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020. The two sub-districts of
maize production centers in West Pasaman are Luhak Nan Duo and Kinali. The material used in this
research was 96% alcohol. Meanwhile, tools that were used included microscope, microcentrifuge
tube, plastic kreb, dropper pipette, petri dish, container box, insect tweezers, cap, field shoes, label
paper, digital camera Sony HX-300, tissue, face shield, mask, and other tools.
The method used in this research is sampling. In this experiment, the location of the research
sample was 1 ha. Sampling was carried out four times, namely at the age of 20, 40, 60, and 80 days
after planting. The sampling represents 2 growth phases of the maize plant, namely the vegetative and
generative phases.
The sample collection of S. frugiperda was done by direct observation of all plant samples. The
method used in this study was random or sampling. We did as much as 4 times in every location [20,
40, 60, and 80 days after planting [DAP]]. It is taking the larvae using tweezers. The sample obtained
was put into a 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tube which already contained 96% alcohol. Then the
microcentrifuge tube was labeled. Then samples were taken to Insect Bioecology laboratory, Faculty
of Agriculture, Andalas University to identified. Identification of S. frugiperda that attacks maize in
West Pasaman, West Sumatra carried out by observing the character of the morphology of the larvae
and imago under the light microscope. The identification process refers to [17], [11], [2], [7], [4], [16],
[6], [19], and [13].
The level of attack of an invasive new pest, S. frugiperda was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and
a description of the specific symptoms. Data processing aims to determine and obtain the attack
intensity of S. frugiperda in the West Pasaman District.
3. Results and Discussion

The results showed that there was a severe attack of Spodoptera frugiperda on maize in West
Pasaman. The attack rate of S. frugiperda in West Pasaman District was classified as high, reaching
100.00% in the vegetative phase of maize [Figure 1].
2
Figure 1. The attack rate of S. frugiperda [FAW] on maize in West Pasaman, Indonesia.
In Figure 1, it can be seen that maize was severely damaged at the age of 40 days after planting
[DAP], with 100% of maize infested, and each plant was occupied by medium or large larvae. Based
on the plant growth phase, the age of 40 days after planting is the vegetative phase. It means that the
vegetative phase has been the growth phase most susceptible to FAW. The identification of FAW in
all locations was based on the character of morphological larvae. Three characteristics are also set as a
description of the morphology of larvae [12; 7; 21]. S. frugiperda attacked shoots of maize [Figure 2].
a b
Figure 2. The specific symptoms of S.frugiperda in West Pasaman. Larvae on shoots of maize [a],
Their feces like sawdust [b].
In Figure 2, it can be seen that the specific symptom of FAW has been known that the larvae feed on
the shoots of maize, and leaving their feces like sawdust. Even a severe attack can cause the maize to
fail to grow. FAW is very voracious and larvae can eat the shoots of maize until they run out, so if
control efforts too late, the risk of crop failure can occur when the attack rate is high. The results of
this study are the same as those stated by [3], that FAW attacked plant growth points which can fails
shoot formation. The losses incurred due to FAW in African and European countries are between 8.3
and 20.6 million tons per year [9].
Based on the growth phase of maize, so FAW can attack all the development phases [vegetative
and generative phase]. However, the highest attack rate of FAW occurred in the vegetative phase,
namely 72.50% until 100.00% [Figure 3].
3
Figure 3. The intensity of attacks of S. frugiperda in the vegetative phase of maize, in West
Pasaman, West Sumatra, Indonesia.
In Figure 3 it can be seen that the vegetative phase is a phase that is vulnerable to FAW attack.
According to [20], there are only one or two larvae per plant on maize in Southern India. However, in
this study, the average number of FAW larvae found in West Pasaman was average two to three per
plant. When the attack intensity of FAW is classified as heavy, the signs of damage that occurred in
the vegetative phase can be seen visible in the field. The leaves on the shoots were seen to be damaged
and disjointed was due to being eaten by larvae. Besides, the high intensity attacks also provide an
opportunity to find the egg of FAW imago in the field [Figure 4].
a b
Figure 4. The occurrence of heavy attacks from FAW in West Pasaman [a], Eggs of S. frugiperda
was founded on maize [b]. [Photo: Silvia Permata Sari]
In addition to the maize growth phase, the high intensity of attacks from FAW in the vegetative phase
in West Pasaman is thought to be due to several factors [Table 1].
4
Table 1. Other factors affecting the intensity of attacks from FAW in West Pasaman, West
Sumatra, Indonesia
Other Factors Luhak Nan Duo Kinali
Sub-district Sub-district
Altitude 36 mdpl 28 mdpl
Variety of maize Pioneer 32 Pioneer 32
Spacing of maize 75 x 20 cm 75 x 25 cm
Founded or not of S. frugiperda Founded Founded
The part of the plant that is attacked Shoots Shoots
The average number of larvae Two-three larvae per Two larvae per
founded per plant plant plant
Types of plants around the maize NK 212 varieties, oil NK 212 varieties,
field palm oil palm
In Table 1, it can be seen that West Pasaman is classified as lowland [<400 meters above sea level],
where the altitude ranges from 28 - 36 meters above sea level. The condition of the landscape close to
sea level allows the spread of FAW which is very likely to occur from one region to another. Pioneer
32 varieties have an upright leaf structure when the shoots are fully open so that it will attract more
FAW imago. The types of plants around the fields also affect the percentage attack, meaning that the
availability of food occurs throughout its life and at the same time as an alternative host plant. [18]
reported that maize in West Pasaman was attacked by FAW since the beginning of 2019. The high
intensity of S. frugiperda attacks during the vegetative period does not always make the attack
intensity high during the generative period with ranges from 0.00 - 14.17% [Figure 5].
Figure 5. The intensity of attacks of S. frugiperda on generative phase, in West Pasaman, West
Sumatra, Indonesia.
5
In Figure 5, it can be seen that the attack intensity of FAW decreases with the increasing age of
maize. At the age of 60 days after planting, maize has a morphological structure of leaves and stems
that are harder and stronger. Besides, farmers in West Pasaman intensively carry out several chemical
control techniques on the generative phase, so FAW was no longer found. [20] reported the existence
of FAW and natural enemies on maize in Southern India. Mechanisms of plant resistance to FAW
attacks have also been developed [5]. Furthermore, [9], imago of FAW is a strong flier and has a high
cruising range. At the beginning of May 2019, the mass media Tribun-Medan [1 May 2019] reported
that thousands of hectares of land of maize in Karo, North Sumatra, is believed to have been infested
by FAW. The same damage was also reported in the Lampung district of the east, Lampung [22]. [14],
said that FAW has been attacked on maize in West Java. Moreover, [15] said that FAW has also
attacked maize in Bengkulu.
4. Conclusions
As for the conclusion was a severe attack of S. frugiperda on maize crops in West Pasaman District,
West Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The vegetative phase is a phase that is vulnerable to S. frugiperda
attack. Even a severe attack can cause the maize to fail to grow. The high intensity also influenced by
variety, spacing, types of plants around the maize fields, and pest and disease control techniques used
by farmers.
Acknowledgment
The author are grateful to Andalas University, which has funded this research [RDP cluster], Profesor
Irfan Suliansyah, Profesor Novri Nelly, and Dr, Hasmiandy Hamid as my supervisor in PhD Program
di Andalas University. And I said to thanks all my research team who helped carry out this research,
both in the field and in the laboratory, what's more this research was carried out during the Covid-19
Pandemic.
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IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

PAPER • OPEN ACCESS

The occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda attack on maize in West

View the article online for updates and enhancements.

This content was downloaded from IP address 103.212.43.155 on 27/05/2021 at 04:23

The occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda attack on maize in

S P Sari12*, I Suliansyah2, N Nelly3, H Hamid3

2. Material and methods

3. Results and Discussion

[3] CABI. 2019. Spodoptera frugiperda [Fall Armyworm].

[11] Karam, H Hedaya, AM El-Minshawy, EM Helal. 1992. Thaxonomical characters of some

[19] Sharanabasappa, CM Kallesshwaraswany, MS Maruthi, HB Pavithra. 2018. Biology of invasive

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